Directory-rack.



1. R. oumomf DIRECTORY RACK-E Patented Dec, 26,1916.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. 1916.

Aria/Mr JOSEPH R. DUMONT, OF KANSAS GITY,'MISSOURI.

, niano'ronr-nacx.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,440.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrrr R. DUMONT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and,

State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Directory- Racks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a directory rack, and more particularly to a device of that character for use in hotels or other places where it is desirable that names of guests, on,

other information, be arranged in alphabetical or other fixed order to facilitate use of the rack, the device being of particular utility where the names, or other information, must be frequently changed, and it is the principal object of the present invention to facilitate the placement or change of cards or other devices upon which the infor mation appears without disturbing the arrangement of other cards in the rack.

While a directory containing my improvements is adapted for various specific uses, it is especially advantageous in hotels or like places where names of guests are arranged alphabetically and the names frequently changed and I will, in the following description, refer to this particular use, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention thereto.

In accomplishing the above noted and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a directory rack frame contain ng a number of card traps, some of which are shown elevated to illustrate the placement of a trap in a selected position. Fig. II is an enlarged perspective view of two of the traps, particularly illustrating the detail construction thereof, the arrangement of the cards and the seating of the supporting ears of one trap on the edge of a lower trap. Fig. III is a transverse section of the device on the line IIIIII, Fig. IV. Fig. IV is a central 5 vertical section of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a directory frame, which is here shown to consist of metallic side rails 2, of T construction, with the fin directed inwardly, for a purpose presently described,-

and the said rails being connected at their opposite ends by upper and lower plates 3- which are preferably riveted to the fins of the side rails in order to connect the rails and form a rigid frame of fixed width.

The frame 1 is adapted for accommodating a number of card traps 6, which may be easily and quickly located in the frame or removed therefrom and which are independent of each other in order that any upper traps may be lifted to form a space within which an additional trap may be properly positioned in the frame. Each of the traps is preferably formed of sheet metal, bent upon itself to form the back 7 and front 8, the front being spaced from the back to provide a pocket 9 within which a card 10 may be located and supported, the front being of less depth than the back to provide a space above the upper edge of the front member so that information on the upper edge of a card contained within the pocket I may be exposed above the front member. The front member 8 is preferably cut away on a concave line to provide an extended exposure of a contained card, and the arms 11 at the sides of said front member are directed forwardly to constitute the ears 12.

Each trap 6 is of substantially the same Width as the interior width of the frame '1, so that the edges of the back and front members of the trap will lie closely adjacent the inner faces of the rails 2 to prevent lost motion of the traps when the latter are raised or lowered in the frame, and the cars '12 are provided, at their outer edges, with slits 14 of sufficient width to receive the Tfin 15 and of sufficient depth to provide a guiding contact along the fins'without unduly restricting the sliding of the ears therealong.

As each rail 1 is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal, bent back upon itself at one edge to form the overlap 16, that is inturned at its free edge to form the T-fin 15 there is an offset back of the fin the effect of which may be overcome by cutting away the front members of the trap lying close the rails when the trap is raised by upward pressure on one of the ears, the opposite diagonal corners of the trap will bear against the opposite frame rails to prevent the trap from tilting to a position where the ears may escape from the rails. with the result that upward pressure on the ear will lift the trap, and the traps supported thereabm'e. within the frame to openaspace fortheinsert-ion of another trap. In order to further insure against theundue tilting movement of the trap, I preferably form a seat 18 in each corner of the back member 7 of each trap, of sufficientwidth to receive the forwardly projecting car 12 on the front member of the next higher trap, so that the edge of the seat will hold the ear snugly against the side of the adpicent rail, thereby avoiding the tilting movement heretofore mentioned.

The cards 10 which are adapted for seating in the traps are preferably of about the same width as the back members of the trap, so that they will completely cover the back member when seated in the pocket 9, and as the name of a guest, with the room number, may be printed along the upper edge of the card it is plainly visible above the front 8, the concave on the front member exposing the card so that other information may be marked thereon if desired.

Assuming that the parts are constructed and assembled as described, and the directory adapted for use in a hotel, when the directory is first put into use, cards bearing the names of guests are placed in the traps and the first trap located between fins of the frame and tilted slightly so that the slotted cars 12 may be positioned over the fins. The trap is then released and drops through the frame until the cars 12 rest on the lower cross rail l, where the trap is supported at a slight rearward and downward incline, and in such position that the information of the card 10 is easily discernible.

lVith the first trap in position other traps are similarly placed, the only difference being that instead of their supporting ears contacting the cross rail of the frame they engage the upper'edges of the back member 7 of the next lower trap, and are supported thereby, the ears resting in the seats 18 and being held snugly against the rail fins, so that they will not have lost motion that might tend to accidentally displace them from the frame. The directory is built up in this manner and if desired, or necessary, a number of the frames 3. may be used, it being apparent that the names in each frame may be arranged alphabetically in order to facilitate the location of the names of any particular person, or other information borne by the cards 10.

AS each new guest arrives at the hotel his isomers name is written on a card 10, as indicated in the drawings, and the, card slipped into one of the traps. With the card in place the trap is then inserted in its proper position in the rack, the positioning being usually dotcrmined alphabetically, as this arrangement facilitates the location of the name of any particular guest when the same is desired. Assuming that a card should be positioned between a number of other traps in the rack, the operator first locates the desired position and then grasps the ear of the trap next above the position where the new trap is to be located and lifts on the ear, thereby lifting the trap of which the ear forms a part, and, as the traps thereabove are supported successively by the engagement of their respective cars 12 with the upper edges of the next lower traps, all of the traps above the one held by the operator are lifted in the frame to expose the space where the new trap is to be inserted (Fig. I). As the traps all fit snugly in the frame, when the lowest trap of those to be raised is lifted by one of the side cars, all the traps slide np evenly within the frame and avoid tilting to an extent which might displace cars from the rail fins, it being appaient that as it is necessary to tip the trap to a decided angle relative to the ultimate position, in order to position the ears over the frame fins, a lesser angle would not be sufiicient to displace the trap. When the newly inserted trap is properly positioned between the side rails it may be released and will fall by gravity until its cars 12 contact the edge ofthe upper trap of those that have remained undisturbed in the frame, and will automatically find their positions in the seats 18 at opposite ends of the said under trap. The rounded lower edge of the traps serve to direct them backwardly when they contact the upper edges of the next lower traps, so that the proper positioning of the traps is automatically effected.

It is apparent that with this arrangement whenever a guest leaves the hotel the directory may be corrected by lifting the traps above the one bearing the name of the departing guest, to afford a space within which i the trap bearing such guestsname may be tilted to a positin that will permit its removal from the frame, and that when the said trap has been removed, the others which have been lifted, may be dropped to position to close the gap and form the continuous directory.

With this arrangement the directory may be corrected easily and quickly so that the clerk or others desiring the information may learn at a glance whether or not a certain person is registered at the hotel.

While I have specifically referred to the use of the directory in hotels, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the scope ofthe invention, as it may be adapted for other specific purposes as well as the one mantloned.

Havingthus described m invention, what I claim as new therein, an desire to secure,

by LettersePatent, is

1. The combination with a frame, of a' plurality of card traps slidablg l with a frame, of a card trap comprising a back and a from member downcut from its upper edge to expose the back, and having aforwardly directedfi er 'p. .i 3. In a directory 131, the combination with a frame, of a card trap comprising a back and a front member downcut; from its upper edge to exposethe backjend having a the rail fins.

rails. v, q 7 The combination with spaced rails, each having a fin at its inner side, of a trans-, verse bottom plate attached to the fins on opposite rails, and a card trap having forj wardly directed ears adapted for'engafiing' forwardly directed fingen-grip, .haglng Bhdj me.; 5' a 4. The cembination'withspaced rails, each having a fin at its inner side, shardtrap, comprising ears, each having fl.

able, locking engagement into the opening slit and adapted to receive rail fin to slidably', retain the. trap between the" e frame comprising rule, of a card trap comrails.

bottom plate attached tofthe fins on op 'osite rails, and a card trap having forv'vard y di'.

rected ears adapted'for engaging saidv base plate to support the trap.

6. The combination with spaced rai1s,each having a fin at its inner side, of a. transverse bottom plate attached'to the fin on opposite i rails, and a card trap having forwardly di- 40,

rected ears adapted forenga ng said plate to support the trap an for engaging to guide. thoi'trap between the" said base plate to'support the trap and ing laterally 0 eningslots for receivin the fins to guide t e traps between the rai s.

8. The-combination with spaced rails, each having a back-turned edge provided with an inwardly turnedfin of a trap comprising edge portions having slots for receiving'the rail fins. v

l. copy 1,9,318.

another lower trap 1n the frame.

5. The combination with spaced rails,each I I having a fin at its inner side, of a transverse :nd a relatively-l to r ears adapted for ingeorner seats in the back of i next lower trap'finethe frame and .having'laterally openingslots',

and fins on the rai locatedin the ear 'elots', 4

9. The combination with spaced rails, each havin a back-turned edge provided with an inwar ly turned fin, of a plate fixed to the base ends of said fins a tra wardly directed ears adapted having forl or supporting engagement with the plate and'h'aving laterall I opening slots formceivingsaid'fins.

frame, of a card trap com rising aback and ing engagement with the} upperfed '0 0. The combination with .,a" directory a "relativelyflow" front, and forwardly di- .rected ears on the upper'cornersof said fib t. adapted for supporting engagemeng with the ilPP r edge of'the back 'part o :12. The, combination with g a dissed; heme, ofa :card trap eompri We H1 forward! of lower'trap in the frame. a '18, The combination with a directory upper-corner ears seats in the a'i bac "hivin downeut mnerseats, an a .rela- .from the backlendi nt-epaced'frem the ardly directedjupper and having for the'pnrpose set forth.

14. In a directory rack,'spa ced a trap comprising a single piece eimateri al' bent to form relatively high back and low front portions, the jfront portionbeing 7 downcut to fiorm' 'sidej portions, forwardly eamon thmer edges of said side ggrtions, harp-i I: vopenlngslots, ands. on s'aid-{ra' ilocate inthe ear s1 I .-'1' 5." -Th e combination with s aced 'railshaving inwardl directed'finao a plurality of traps,feach av jng its side edges located "closely adjacenfltherails and 1n. guiding relation with" said fins, and means on the traps for supportingthe same from next lower traps and forming finger g i f 'purpose set forth. l

- In testimony whereof I aflix' my signature.

, JOSEPH R. DUMONT. 

